Hat-box.



Patented Nov. |3,'l900. C. L. HAYES.

HAT BOX. Applicatiomflled Apr. 2, 1900.) (No Model.)

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signed to contain small articles.

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HAT

BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 661,521, dated November 13, 1900. Application fil d April 2, 1900. Serial No. 11,181. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, OLEBURNE LEE HAYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at De Funiak Springs, in the county of \Valton and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Hat-Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to packing and storing vessels, and has for its object to provide an improved hat-box in which the cover or lid thereof is removably connected to the body in such a manner as to permit of the box being carried by a handle applied to the lid and also to permit of the lid being readily removed for access to the interior of the box. It is furthermore designed to arrange the means for securing the lid to the box so as to stiffen the bottom and sides of the latter in order that the box may be made of comparatively light material and at the same time preserve the required stiffness and strength.

l Vith these and other objects in view the presentinvention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accom pan ying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form,proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hatbox constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Corresponding parts in both figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the box, which is of the usual size of a hat-box and is made of any preferred light material, such as pasteboard. Although any desired shape of box may be employed, yet it is preferable to provide a rectangular box, and within the four upright corners thereof there are provided the upright supports 2, which are formed of wood and terminate short of the upper edge of the box, so as to form supports for a suitable tray 4, which is de- It will be understood that the supports extend from the bottom of the box to points adjacent to the upper open edge thereof, so as to strengthen and stiffen the body of the box.

Located centrally within the body of the boxis a substantially U-shaped metallic strap 5, the transverse portion of which fits flat against the inner side of the bottom of the box and is secured thereto by means of rivets or other suitable fastenlngs 6. This transverse portion of the strap extends entirely across the box, and the opposite sides or arms 7 extend upwardly adjacent to the inner faces of the opposite sides of the box, to which they are secured by suitable fastenings 8, located adjacent to their lower ends. Upwardly from the fastenings 8 the arms incline a trifle in- Wardlyin opposite directions, so as to be normally spaced out of contact with the sides of the box, and the free extremity of each arm is bent into a substantially L-shaped latch 9, which is offset upon the outer side of the arm, and its transverse portion 10 passes on twardly through a slot or opening 11, formed in the adjacent side of the box, so that the latch portion may normally lie at the outer side of the box.

Closing the upper open end of the box is a lid or cover 12, which is provided upon its outer side with a centrally-located handle 13, and it also has a pendent marginal rim or flange 1a to embrace the upper end of the box and prevent accidental lateral displacement of the lid. As best indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, opposite portions of the marginal rim or flange are located between the outside of the box and the adjacent latch 9, and each of these portions is provided with a catch in the form of a stud to be received within a perforation 16 in the latch, so as to mutually connect the body of the box and the lid, in order that the entire box may be carried by the handle and also permit of the lid being readily removed. It Will be understood that the spring-arms have an inward tension, so as to clamp the latches upon the catch-studs, and also are inclined inwardly away from the adjacent sides of the box to permit of the required lateral play for disengaging the latches.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the lid is efiectively connected to the box, and the latter is stiffened and strengthened by the U-shaped metallic strap as well as by the cornersupports. Also the shoulders or transverse portions 10 of the latches engage beneath the bottom of the tray at points intermediate the supports 2, and thereby form additional supports for the interniediate portions of the tray.

What is claimed is- 1. A hat-box, comprising a body, a lid, having a pendent marginal rim to embrace the body of the box, and also provided with outwardly-directed studs, and opposite springarms secured to the inside of the body, and provided with latches extending outwardly through openings or slots in the sides of the body, and arranged to engage the respective studs.

2. A hat-box, comprising a body, having an open upper end, a substantially U-shaped metallic strap, havingits intermediate portion secured to the inner side of the bottom of the box, the opposite arms thereof having their free ends bent into substantially L-shaped latches,which project outwardly through slots or openings formed in the respective sides of the box, and a lid or cover, having catches for engagement with the latches.

3. A hat-box, comprising a body, which is open at its upper end, a cover or lid therefor, opposite spring-arms connected to the inner sides of the box, provided with transverse shoulders extending through slots or openings in the sides of the box, and having latches at the outer ends thereof and for engagement with the lid, and a tray supported upon the inner portions of the transverse shoulders.

4. A hat box, comprising a rectangular body, which is open at its upper ends, cornersupports fitted sn ugly in each corner of the body and extending from the bottom of the latter to points adjacent to the upper edge thereof, a tray supported upon the upper ends of the supports, a lid, having a marginal flange or rim to embrace the body of the box, and a substantially U-shaped metallic strap, having its transverse portion secured flat against the inner side of the bottom of the box, the opposite arms of the strap being inclined inwardly and upwardly away from adjacent sides of the box, and having their upper ends formed into substantially L-shaped latches, the transverse portions of which form supports for intermediate portions of the tray, and also pass loosely outward through open ings or slots in the adjacent sides of the box, to locate the latches upon the exterior-of the box and for engagement with the lid.

5. A hat-box, comprising a body, a lid, and opposite spring arms secured to the inner sides of the body,-a'nd having their free ends formed into latches, which extend laterally outward through lateral slots or openings in the sides of the body, and lie exposed upon the respective outer sides of the box for engagement with the lid.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OLEBURNE LEE HAY-ES.

Witnesses:

S. D. 'OAwTHoN, BENEL-LA DAVENPORT. 

